Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China
China: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 82.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China stood at 82.5%. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China peaked at 82.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 47.8%, in 1984.
That places China 76th out of 181 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 47.9% | — |
| 1973 | 59.1% | +23.4% |
| 1974 | 61.1% | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 63.7% | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 67.1% | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 65.4% | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 61.9% | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 60.0% | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 57.2% | -4.7% |
| 1981 | 55.3% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 47.8% | -13.5% |
| 1985 | 48.4% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 48.8% | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 49.4% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 49.3% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 48.8% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 48.5% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 48.9% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 50.0% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 51.1% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 52.3% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 54.7% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 57.3% | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 59.2% | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 63.7% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 64.7% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 65.4% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 66.4% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 67.5% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 68.8% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 70.8% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 73.4% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 75.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 76.4% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 77.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 78.8% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 80.3% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 82.5% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 60.8% | 47.9% | 67.1% | 8 |
| 1980s | 50.6% | 47.8% | 57.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 52.8% | 48.5% | 59.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 64.8% | 63.7% | 66.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 75.1% | 67.5% | 82.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in China was 82.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 82.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.8% in 1984.
- How does China rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- China ranks 76th out of 181 countries with data for 2019.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of primary school age, secondary school age, and the five-year age group following on from secondary school leaving. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.